Real-time collaboration delivers for fusion computing
A key computing system for ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ is now being trialled at the European tokamak , following collaboration between teams at the UK's Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE), the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ and the European Domestic Agency for ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ.
Adam Stephen, CODAS project manager at Culham, teamed up with his counterparts Bertrand Bauvir from ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ and Andre Neto from the European agency to integrate the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ synchronous databus network on the live JET machine.
The synchronous databus network consists of a high performance software/hardware stack for interconnecting diagnostic and control systems on a tokamak, according to Adam. "The equivalent real-time data network system on JET is a core part of the plasma control system and has delivered ever-increasing functionality to the fusion scientists over the last decade." What was needed to further improve JET equipment was a real-time Ethernet feed of data to a new visualization service that would give physicists a better live view of key JET measurements.
Installing the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ system was a chance to do that, while at the same time validating the network on an operational fusion experiment ahead of ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ's start-up in 2025.
Thanks to the intensive work and resourcefulness of the team, and the strong backing and support from each of the organizations, the equipment was installed in only three days, a success that was warmly welcomed by Andrew Hynes, CCFE's head of CODAS&IT, Anders Wallander, head of the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Control System Division, and Filippo Sartori, head of Instrumentation & Control at the European Domestic Agency.
The project has provided enhanced control room tools by integrating ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ software with state-of-the-art data visualization tools from the JET data analysis group. It has also paved the way for the future evolution of the JET real-time data network using up-to-date maintainable software and hardware. Importantly, the compatibility with ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ equipment further opens the possibility of integrating and testing future ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ systems on JET.